Comet Pan-STARRS and its March+ 2013 appearance

Seven of us from NIAAS have seen it, two last night and another five tonight, from the top of Divis mountain overlooking Belfast.

Spotted at 19.35pm, and clearly seen in binoculars, although I don't think anyone saw it naked eye, I certainly didn't.

Jonathan got some photo's, and I'll get him to post them later.

Hi,

A nice view of the comet this evening low in the dusk. It was easy enough in my 12x36 binoculars, with a short tail.

Hard to estimate, but probably of 2nd magnitude. Occasionaly thought we saw it with the naked-eye, but cannot be sure.

Also took some images with the zoom lens set. See my website Variable Star Nights for one at 100mm focal length.

John & Sara

Yes ! Great observations all, I had a great night also with clear skies, the Comet could not be seen naked eye, but with binoculars it was very easy. Great sight with the Moon also. I think it was smaller that I had hoped with a short tail pointing in the 10 o'clock position. I would agree that it was about magnitude 2.

I got some shots too...

Our Moon & the Comet
www.flickr.com/photos/79652716@N00/8554821583/in/photostream/

Comet Panstarrs close up
www.flickr.com/photos/79652716@N00/8554821563/in/photostream

Keith.

Nice images Keith

I was lucky that I got home from work when the sky was clearing, got out the 10x50s and soon found it, the moon was a great help.

The coma was really nice and the tail showed up really well. As I was viewing from the street outside the house I could not see it with the naked eye.

I was amazed how quickly it sank towards the horizon, I was using a distant tree as a guide and within a few minutes it had moved noticeably. Because it was moving so fast I decided that it would not be worth setting up the scope, also a bank of cloud rolled in.

My 11 year old daughter Ellie was with me and she was excited to see it also.

Hopefully it will continue to show for the next week or so, I would like to see it through the scope.

It whets the appetite for ISON, I know what I want for Christmas.

Paul

some great shots there Keith !!, I got one myself, not nearly as good, I wasn't sure the camera would pic it up at all given the lens I was using,
I guess this would be indicative of it with the naked eye for those with superb eyes, I think it puts the comet is perspective in terms of size and brightness.
2 second shot with a canon300d, 55mm lens, iso400
I hope Ison end up been brighter then this, some are saying this is Kohoutek all over again...
Having said that, I was happy to see this at all tbh.
This was taken during the SAC observing session, and no way could any of us see it with the naked eye, only with binos and scopes.


farm9.staticflickr.com/8249/8556104676_832b355cbd_o.jpg

FWIW the lay-by on the Military Rd overlooking Glenasmole is good, with a clear view to the West.

Cheers for that info Mike ... I must check that site out also as a spot within easy reach of the City.

I managed to see the comet last night too from Dunsink Observatory. There was a public Open Night on but the comet was gone from view by the time everyone arrived at 8pm. I spotted the comet at 7:10pm once some low cloud cleared out of the way. PanSTARRS was a lovely sight in the 15x70mm binoculars with its tail clearly visible. The seeing was quite good later on and Jupiter was very dramatic in the 12" Grubb refractor at 100x.

John